Compilers of Aust music top 50 hope for reflection

PM - Wednesday, 13 June , 2007 18:48:00

Reporter: Lindy Kerin

MARK COLVIN: A group of rock experts has compiled a list of 50 of the most significant moments in Australian pop and rock history.

It includes the farewell concert of Crowded House, the death of AC/DC frontman Bon Scott, the Beatles' Australian tour in 1964 and the Olympic Games "Sorry" protest by Midnight Oil.

At number one is the meeting of two teenage musicians Harry Vanda and George Young in 1964, and the long lasting impact their friendship had on Australia's music industry.

You may not agree with the list, but those who compiled it are hoping it will at least get people thinking and talking.

Lindy Kerin reports.

(excerpt of a song "Friday on my mind")

LINDY KERRIN: They were regarded as one of the greatest Australian pop bands of the 1960s. They gained international acclaim with their song" Friday on my mind".

According to a panel of rock experts, the moment George Young met Harry Vanda and formed The Easybeats was the number one moment in the country's rock and pop history.

Ian McFarlane, is the author of the Encyclopedia of Australian Rock and Pop and was on the panel.

IAN MCFARLANE: Harry Vanda and George Young were young migrants who met at the Villawood migrant hostel in Sydney in 1963 with the vision and basically they formed one of the great Australian 60s bands, The Easybeats, but not only that, once The Easybeats had finished, they wrote songs and produced material for the likes of John Paul Young, William Shakespeare and of course Stevie Wright, and most significantly they had a big hand in getting AC/DC on the road to world fame. So the flow on effects of these two musicians meeting in Sydney in 1963 was just absolutely cataclysmic.

LINDY KERRIN: The list has been put together to celebrate the Australian Musician Magazine's 50th edition.

It includes the moment the Big Day Out music festival went national, the start of the music label Mushroom Records and when the music program Countdown was first broadcast in colour on Australian TV in 1975.

(excerpt from the Countdown)

Compere: Countdown!

(excerpt of a song "Living in the 70s")

LINDY KERRIN: The Skyhooks release of their album "Living in the 70s'" which had six songs banned was also made the top 10.

IAN MCFARLANE: As soon as it came out, six of the tracks were immediately banned by the Federation of Australian Broadcasters.

So what did everyone do? They rushed out and bought the album, it just created this vibe straight away. Not only was it a great album but the fact that they were banned songs and the kids just wanted to hear it. You know there were songs about smoking dope, and the words "arse" were mentioned. You know, things like that and it was songs about "You just like me cause I'm good in bed". You know, how more attractive to teenagers is banned songs like that?

LINDY KERRIN: Ian McFarlane says another band that's made the list is Silverchair who have had 5 album in a row go to number one.

(excerpt of a song by Silverchair)

IAN MCFARLANE: It's quite remarkable when you consider that you know when they first started, no one knew that they'd have such longevity, which is one of the great things about Silverchair, whereas a lot of other bands from that period have fallen by the waste side.

LINDY KERRIN: The editor of the Australian Musician Magazine Greg Phillips says while the list is not a definitive statement it will encourage people to reflect on Australia's rock and pop history.

GREG PHILLIPS: I think they'll agree that the 50 moments should be in the list somewhere, it's the order I think that people will debate. That's the beauty of lists like this that you get to discuss them, basically it's a celebration of Australian music and just showing how far we've come and how we got here.

MARK COLVIN: Greg Phillips from the Australian Musician Magazine with Lindy Kerin.